Getting Back to the Basics of Governing
By Neil Henry-Candidate for Mendham Borough Mayor
Serving as Mayor can be productive and results driven if the principals of the Borough form of government, and the By-Laws of the Borough of Mendham Borough Council, are implemented and executed correctly. I know that, having previously served in the role of Mayor and as a municipal administrator.
Simply put, the mayor needs to work in unison with the Borough Council, the legislative arm of the government, to assist in achieving desired and favorable results on all matters associated with all aspects of the municipal operation. Neither the Mayor, nor the Borough Administrator, have sole authority to make unilateral decisions on municipal matters without the consent of the council.
Article V of the Council by-laws require the mayor to appoint three members of the Borough Council to standing committees at the Borough’s reorganization meeting held in January of each year. One council member will serve in the role of chairperson. The committees include Finance, Public Safety, Recreation and Parks, Personnel, Public Works and Utilities and Land Use.
According to the By-Laws, the standing committees are appointed to expedite and facilitate the work of the council, but only within statutory limits, as the entire council is held responsible for any or all its acts. The committees plan, study, direct and make procurement recommendations within budgetary limitations, and carry on the routine activities for which it has primary responsibility.
It is the responsibility of the mayor to make sure the committees are working effectively in carrying out the council’s agenda and legislating in a manner that is objective and beneficial to our constituents who elect us to represent them in the local government and only works if executed on a very consistent basis.
Presently, the administration manages the standing committee format in a very inconsistent and informal manner. Committees do not meet on a regular basis and in some instances, the Borough Administrator is consulting with just the committee chair on decisions to be made for each respective committee. Clearly, this style of management was not the intent of the Council by-laws and does not help build a consensus among members of the Borough Council who ultimately make the final decisions.
As Mayor, I will require that each standing committee to meet at least once a month. The Chair, along with the Borough Administrator, will distribute a meeting agenda prior to the meeting so that all members will be prepared to discuss the various matters. Not having a regular meeting and not be able to report on those meetings at council meetings is a dis-service to our constituents. Each and every elected council member brings unique skill sets to office when they are sworn in. These skills can be beneficial to those who elect us if managed properly through the standing committees set forth in the Council By-Laws.
The Borough will be faced with very significant matters to discuss and decide on, both in the short- and long-term future. It is imperative that the standing committees be utilized to their full potential and on a regular basis.
It is not a time for being just “good enough.” It’s time for us to say “We must do better.” Let us do that.
